Director of bands Frank Tracz reflects on his 30+ years at K-State
By Ashley Pauls
K-State Alumni Association
“Leave it better than you found it.”
That’s the philosophy Frank Tracz has worked so hard to instill in every one of the
students he’s mentored during his 30+ years with the K-State Marching Band.
And it’s an achievement he has unquestionably accomplished with the university’s marching
band program itself, as he prepares to retire at the end of this season.
When Tracz first arrived on the Kansas State University campus to interview for the
role of director of bands, he viewed the position as “an opportunity and a challenge.”
He originally intended to stay for just a few years, gain experience working at what
was then a Big Eight Conference institution, and then move on to the next chapter
in his career.
However, he wasn’t prepared for how deep a connection he would form to the K-State
family and its infectious purple pride.
Tracz invested three decades of his life at K-State as director of bands and professor
of music in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, regularly working 80-100 hours a
week and waking up in the darkness of the early morning to get his day started. And
the results speak for themselves: the Marching Band is a highlight of every K-State
game day, and the band brought home the prestigious Sudler Trophy from the John Philip
Sousa Foundation in 2015. Tracz also was a key force behind the campaign to construct
a new band hall on campus; the university dedicated the facility as the Tracz Family
Band Hall in 2023.
“Dr. Tracz often talks about finding a place and building your castle, and he has
lived out that standard throughout his life,” says K-State Marching Band drum major
Colby Johnston. “In every capacity, he is leaving this program and university better
than he found it; this band's prestige, the band hall and the countless lives he has
touched all testify to his passion for this group and its students.”
Right place, right time, right people
Tracz arrived on the K-State campus in 1993, not long after legendary football coach
Bill Snyder began what is popularly known as the “greatest turnaround in college football
history.”
“We literally doubled the size of the band from year one to year two,” Tracz said.
“And I thought, ‘Okay, that was huge.’ And then tripled shortly after that. That was
a big moment.”
In addition to Snyder, Tracz also credits the support he received from a number of
campus leaders at the time, including then K-State President Jon Wefald; former K-State
Alumni Association President and CEO Amy Button Renz '76, '86; and Pat Bosco ’71,
’73, now retired K-State vice president for student life and dean of students.
“You just don't find those people anywhere,” Tracz said. “Having them all here at
the same time was pretty special.”
Tracz is also grateful for the staff members, parents and — of course — the current
and former band members who have propelled the program to success over the years.
“These are good kids,” he said of the band members. “What they do and how much they
care and what they put into this — there isn't a kid in that band that I wouldn’t
hire for whatever they’re going to do. They get there early, help and work really
hard during the rehearsal or the event, then after it's over, they stick around, help
clean up and volunteer for stuff.”
Former band member Josh Diazdeleon '23 now serves as the K-State Alumni Association’s
associate director of alumni programs, and he calls his time training under Tracz
“one of the most important learning experiences of my life.”
“Never have I met anyone who could make over 400 band members feel so at home in his
presence,” Diazdeleon said. “Passion is an understatement when it comes to how he
committed himself to the Pride of Wildcat Land, and we’ve all been incredibly lucky
to have had Dr. Tracz as our advocate.”
— This article has been adapted from our member-exclusive K-Stater magazine. To read the full version of the article, including thoughts from K-State leaders on the legacy of Dr. Tracz, watch for the upcoming winter 2025 issue of the magazine. Not yet a member? Learn more about how you can join!